Combined x-ray film changer and x-ray transducer assembly for diagnostic apparatus

ABSTRACT

A film changer has a film supply portion with a roll of unexposed X-ray film therein, an exposure portion with movable image intensifying screens, leaving a gap therebetween, and an exposed film collecting and storage portion; behind the image intensifying screens lies the input screen of a picture amplifier tube. As desired, presentation of X-ray images on a TV monitor can be obtained or film fed by means of a separate motor connected to the supply reel between the intensifying screens; upon movement of the screens together, the film is cut off the roll, can be exposed by X-rays, and then, upon reopening, fed into the exposed film storage chamber by an independently driven ejection roller. Sequencing of operations and selection of mode (radiographic or radioscopic) is selectively controllable by a control console.

[543 COMBINED X-RAY FILM CHANGER AND X-RAY TRANSDUCER ASSEMBLY FOR DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS [72] Inventor: l'lenelqilglleudoml-hnoc [73] Attignee: cummamhnr.

France [221 Filed: $29,191.

[21) AppLNo; 16,438

[3 1 Pm M m II! Oct. 10. I969 FWGQM? 3,361,046 m9 WWWJSOIGS 2,359,582 1011944 Per-5M0! (4 1 Jan. 18, 1912 WMM 2,831,979 4/1958 Kellenbergetllummlfi 2,872,585 Z/l959 KallenbeqetflM Primary Examiner-Willinm F. W Attorney-Flynn A. Frlthlul m1 ABsnAcr Afilm changethuafilmmpplyponiouwithemlldnczpoled X-ray film therein, an exposure portion with monhk image intensifying lcreem, leaving a gap thetebetweetund II exposed film collecting and storage portion; behind the image intensifying screen: lies the input lcreen of: picture amplifier tube. Al desired. presentation of X-ny imlgecon a TV no.-

' torcanbeobtained orfilmfedbymeamofneparatemotor TV b E 9 '5 l2& R A 1?.

I PTlCS U t0 AMPtlFIER 6a ."conTRoL PANEL,

20 a oi- PATENTED JAM 8 B72 PANEL 0 o:

comm

j t 3,636,351 I g 2 COMBINED X-IIAY HLMCflANGERANDX-IAY Upm sensing o! proper placement of the film. the screens TRANSDUCHASSEMBLYFORDIAGW movetogethertoirtcbthefihntherebetweenandplaeeitina APPARATUS predeterminedplanezaimultaneouslythefilmicut from the The present invention relatesto X-ray',diagnosticq:parms. 5 med-ism ejects the film from between the screens into the and more particularly to a combination film chanprand X- espnsed film holder. An X-ray picture amplifier tube is ray image transducer assembly to permit. selectively, radiow behind the image intensifying screens, followed by a scopic examination by means of an X-ray transducergorespo fleei ick tube scanni g th im e prese ted b th sure of film to provide tadioxr p output huninescent screen thereof so that the X ray images The assembly of the present invention includes an inm m fl mmi mmb m d tegrated assembly with a picture amplifier or image intensifier m. io ha i p w p imagnlm haeoordaneewithafieatmeoftheinvmtiomeachoneol ontheonehandandadditionallytoobtainelectrialsignals hmi fli imiefie db m corresponding to the radiographic image, sirnihr to TV ls m d i mom fin m fitm sup l an operating m signals, to enable remote presentation ot'radiosoopic eaam'mw my b li l operating l; a a s l n id l tions. e mmovetheacreensmconjointiytooperatethe film cutter; 8 amplifier imese M! M alalanclhermotortoacpantelymovetheejection mechanism tog with radiesrephie q p t PW lm as lore the exposed film. The proper positioning and place- Picture camera P P W m meatofthefilm can besensed in various ways as known in the intensifiers are placed in advance of the optical pi a-xgfirrexamplehysensingthelength of film being payed and are associated therewith by optical transrn'ssionelernaua 5 mm h h m; f im of g (See for example French Pat. No. 1,371,301,:Iigned totb m b micrnewitehee in the path ofthe filmfand the assignee of the present invention). it; I

The resolution power of such :ssembliesohtainable on Bra 2 11 i M Mr i mm f an is low with respect to that obtainable with classic radiological g m u invention, 4 pmcms apparatus, since there is a loss of definition ot'theinsagewhici M W i the f, d ddi i ll pp en the phewlumineeeent eereee aiewemalik do the control panel with m indicative of electrical or image intensifier. This loss in resolving power may hesufii m g h m i hi h fil h cient to prevent use of such equipment in certain types ti 3 a radiological examinations. To obtain the required Referring to the Mg: 8 lighttight housing l includes film cassettes are used, to be associated with the equipmert, m km mplifigg 2, mm o i 3, nd g t l viso that film may be used to Ob n the W W ioa-typescarmingcameraCamerafisconnectedtotelevichangeover from film to radioscopic examination. however, I h M; W m a mm W eg. cumbersome, and may require a multiplicity ofman'mulatim 33 m and handling steps. The film changers currently utilized can- Th 5h h e: i di ided in th e e l rti n not usually be associated with radiographic apparnusllavinga re i Th fi t m a the to ide of the figure, i the picture amplifier so that thefilm will heplacetiinthessmeesfl g; m whi h h fil l ani magazine 5 i posure field as the picture amplifier itself. Thisis patticnlflly lid; mil f 51;; m be M Wi magazine 5 i true in equipment which can use film obtained frontamll and 40 m1 3 m i h pgyoug li f di fil between not only sheet or strip film. Physical relocatirm of the equip fil f d il 6 a d m, or W idler 7. Film, in. mm. r otthe bodytobe examined byX-raysmpreviwrly diearett in dashed lines, is fed between rollers 6, I, over a required to change over between fihn and a radiogmphic araid roller 8, having apair ofcounter rollers 94, 9b to keep plifier. thefilmin contact therewith.

lthasbeenproposcdtoassocisteapictarearaplifiawitha mmpmigtbmpom;itincludegg roll film changer in a common exposure field in such a ,5 d image i r if screen; 19 d 31, screen 1., manner, that an objective plane is located in advmtee of ti: W i the direction of impinging X-rays indicated by the Piewre amplifier with reepeet to the r redietiee levee- Irowisfixedand mounted \vithone facesdjacent the housing f r xa p P 1. A ietiflefndie L'lhesecondscreen t1 ismovably mounted on a rigid frame, s p frames can be expend during radio-eerie mttuemwatdt andaway time screen ill in the direction of lien observable 0t! television-type "(2598. Th flfll ii & m [Xfl mmofihg m 1] award; and away from vanced intermittently. If it is desired to intersperee radioacop'c m m i m lt d b g m M2 led to aid fra e examination with radiog aphic exposures, itu easiiyseen tlm i f m, b mi -r li e m a portion of the film is permanently exposed to the X-raydu 5s m h k T m, m a d h i i i nd d ing the examination'aud, therefore, that amount of the fiha'n mi 535: m Wwhich m wasted. matron, tan apparatus which effects mechanical ltisanobjectoftheprescntinventiontoprovideaetan- :z my

bined film changcrandX-ray transducerapparatuswhichi W n m h ld 5cm 1] i us in diagnostic equipment at 'hieh r w aseereterettee aim to, Sacha! guide tracks and the selectively, the melee: y g time time! aseltttttetbeett illltlttatedlince it itlmittcrnfdcsipt and it 4 X-ray images by means oi'an electronic traIdlsca'Joresara-" 'm' im m i M to the housing in such pic on monitor screens, without wasting d film and m m, m m homing -m which i w phyeieelhendlins eftbeequiameet x-ts twiu not beaubstantially atggtcmatemlikewisqtheraovablescreeall shouldbeso SUBJECT MA'I'I'EROFTHEPRESENTNW moniufimmkwmmpmwmnw h Briefly, a lighttight housing is provided which has the see terferenee with the mission ot'X-rsys which will continue tions or portion-a film supply portion in which a roll of film at pus to the sens'dive layer 01 the Xeay image intensifier and feed mechanism is located; an expmureportion, lea-rings tube 2. The distance beween the image intensifying screens pair of image intensifier screens which can be moved close I andat'orwardt'aced'thealplifiertuhezshouldbeassmalla together or spaced from each other, the Era being fed in th po-iiie. gapbetween thetwoscreenswhen theyarespacedandartes Tl: exposure section includes a cutter asposed film storage portion. including a lighttight film stomp mmhly 12 located aboveacreens 1d. 11. Cutter assembly 12 holder. independent drive means are provided to thive the omitsot a movahie utter blade 12h, movable towards the film supply into thegap hctwecnthe 75 rigllnthe figtueagiznatsltv'fl lhlaapreferred emborho 3 athenonfieblarkmisintegrallysecuredtotheframe ezryingmonhlesseen .Othercutterassemblies,suchaa mtarycutteac-hused 'flleth'ndscctiouofthefihn changeris the exposed film Ioragepnrrinmkicludes an ejector roller 13, a counter ejectiorrrdierlhsv'nzgashatt parallel to that of roller 13. a gnidernllerliadalighttightexposedfilrn receptacle 16. In the rated in the figure, the counter or idler mlakinovaliesowards and away from ejection roller 13 it is lodged integrally with the isle esrryingtlle movable screen 11, and receptacle or magazine 16 fortn'irgeaposed film is externally located with aspect to the inrn'ng l and interconnected therewith by meansotslossficigenchotherrespectively formed in housigiardnragniul 'l'hesuwlyrriridrivenbymotorschematically in-' pet or consrk C. Control console C can include interlocks ad rimerddisc'lcuitsto provide for proper sequencing apes-aria Frhispaiddfznm thecartridge 5 by supply roller 6 over stilesiandlisnnghthegapbetween screens 10. 11 and toestndbetweensolers l3, 24. This length of film may be the mastheciruferenccof roller 8. The film is stopped, for es-plebyae-csmectedtotheshaftofrolled andcloeigapa oicnntsctslcothermechanisms may be used, such aedgcseiirrgdesiregamicroswitch placed justbelow roller lflm'theih.

lcanrearilybeseenthattheexposure section ofthe filrn is hcaleduithintheradiated besrn, inadvanoe otthe photosenirelayerdtheX-raypictmeamplifier tube 2.

Operstinclfiidesiredto make an X-ray picture. control peiC sopaieiiwexample by one of the switches shown 1 .toelesg'ne motor M! which will causes rotatinnofthesqplgroflerandfeedfilm over roller8 through sh gapbetnensueens ll, 11. When the proper length of fihaspsedbetweenthescreeus, motor Ml isdeenergized adlhefilssiflshplt isnow caught between ejection rollers 8,1 Assuocastiefilns is stopped. by operation of switch Igwaydhernns'ngmeans, the secondrnotor M2 is enerll flmove towards screen I. tending to close shegapandrum'rrzhefihn against screen 10. At the same ingtknrosflkblade IZbofcutter 12 will pass underneath sheedgeotcatrereiesuent IJatocut ofl'thefilrnstrip between zreensllsndillromthesupply roll. When the screens l0, llareincnntactwiththefacesof the lib-man unlocking signal bdefiveratrotkX-ray tube over line 20,to enable exposure hbeeifected, iacoordancewith the control ot'the X-ray fietiostsessiphcedonthe film during exposure since the Molroilerlhasbeenmovedtotherighhtolesvethefilm minedoelybetweenscrecns ll, 1!.

AhereapumreMiswlrentheX-raytubehotshowmno 4 r V tionallynnotormiseontroiledtobeenergiasdbytheconnd console, causing rotation of ejection roller 13 to l'wdthe film overguideroller ISintothestoragemagazine lfiAssoons thefilmisplaeedinthelightandradiationtightraagazinel. another X-ray irnagecanbetakenortheX-raysom'cemh energized again toenableradioscopieessminaiionof-objectby impingemcntotX-radiationonthesensiivefaed tubeZthroughthescreern.

The structure of the present invention thnsproviba sistantial film storage capability within cartridge 5, butnom oft'rlm;filmisfedonlywbensuimage'sintendedmbetakel. The numberofsuoosaiveenposurescsusedbytheX-ray sourcecanbecontrolled,forexnmple,byacrnrnterorpointes sothateachfiftmorsixthpulseofradiationenrittedhyax raysource ia,i'orexanrple,recordedonfilnr.conrrolpanelc can containsuitable program timer,orcounserswitches,s desired. Thelengthot'thefilrncontaincdvithinmtridge! may well be in the orderofSO meters.

By providing threeseparatedrive motorsJhzepsratefeed, exposing, and ejectionoperationswithrespecttorhefihnm becarried outwithoutshochwitb smoothstastndnopfl with submantial flexibility with respectroexpomrgorseleetion ofmode ofoperatiomthatisrecordingonflmum mission ot'X-ray images by means ol'X-ray transriroerZJJ. Control console can readily contain logic circuit, electroncally or electromechanieslly constructed positing for stantial .irversity and flexibility in program-lg i preestablished radiation sequences, their and relative sequential arrangement of radiographic pictasa Id raiscopic examination.

Thefilm changeetransducerassembly ofthepreselivsn tionrnaybeusedwithvarioustypesoiX-rayapparmfin'cample medical diagnostic or other apparatus ad per-mi rapid sequential exposures eitherforrecordingorfirpresentation on a TV monitor, practically simultaneonslywitiesposure of X-ray filrn yet,withont wasting any film whelviel'q, byrneansofrhetransducerassembly anemia lclairn:

1. In combination of film changer for recordisgX-ray photographs and an X-ray transducer asembly fiptedto h placedinthe path ofanX-raybeamincludir nlighttighthousing;

amagazine forcontainingssupplyrollot'rleqmsdh locatedwithinsaidhousing;

afirst intensifyingscreenfixedlysecuredm-dheani within said housing in radiation respecttosaidX-raybesrn;

a second intensifying screen movably nrolntd "IE si housing for displacement towards and away [In ssi first screen and loatnd behindsaidfirstscreenldsr'sleb tosaid X-raybcarn;

means tortransportingsaid-unexposedfl-lr-sfl magazine into radiation receivingelatiu'ithsailX-rq beam betweensaidfirst andsaidsecondscseenswii theyarespart;

electrically controlled means for driving sail M means;

a rigid, movable mountingfi'ame mernberbrcarry'qsfl second screen, substantially tosaidX-rg means forcuttingssidunexposedfihibfleeui predetermined length greater than that of said tree, located betweensaidtransportingrneansandssidscree. inthevicinityofthelattenandinchdhg: sfixed bladerecuredtosaid housing, a movable blade secured integrallyto said rte-crib:

electrically controlled means for operating safl movahh framemcmberandsaidrnovablebladeforsinuhneorfl, cuttingsaid unexposed flm andpreso'ng'thaweeatno faces ofsaidscreemadjacenttheretor,

amagazine forstoringesposedfilmsheeq nreansforejectingsaidexposedfilmsheetsonehysch. between said screens towards said stnrig Ia srnr,

5 a 6 Iocstedbetweensaidscreensandsaidstoringmagazine 'saidsecondncreenrelativelytosaidX-raybeamandn including: otiptttscreeefor delivering a visible X-ray picture. ejection roller means having a shaft; 7 2. Assembly asclaimed in claim I, wherein said transporting electrically controlled means for driving said ejection mind:

rollenand 5 aieedrollerhvingnhaitpamlleltothnt otsaidejeetion a movable idler roller mounted for rotation about a shall h parallel to that of said mutt mm Md lodged aired idler rollercontiguous with said feed roller having tegrally with said movable frame member for engaging MM m u with said m with Hid roller mwtt when taid mm m apart and W said electrically controlled means for driving an W when M P transportingmeansandsaid ejection roller means respecw lively include um um motor! having rotary shah means for controlling all said electrically controlled means W W No We mom" hum for selectively and successively effecting operation of said m We! coupled w m of aid feed d d unexposed film transporting means to feed film from said aid W m supply roll, to stop said film when located between said W said mm for mums said cw screens; of said movable frame operating means simul- W mm m means for generating m taneously for moving said second screen towards said first i film arrive we said ejection screen and for cutting said film, and alter exposure. a maid Hcidktmucr d simultaneously for moving said second screen away from said first screen and for bringing said idler roller to en- :5? a: g g zgz i mggz gagemcnt with said roller means; and of said ejection ml fomywd in aid Orin roller driving means for ejecting said exposed ii!- h y towards said storing magazine; and m m m a picture amplifier having an input screen located a M -H 

1. In combination of film changer for recording X-ray photographs and an X-ray transducer assembly adapted to be placed in the path of an X-ray beam including: a lighttight housing; a magazine for containing a supply roll of unexposed film located within said housing; a first intensifying screen fixedly secured to and located within said housing in radiation receiving relation with respect to said X-ray beam; a second intensifying screen movably mounted within said housing for displacement towards and away from said first screen and located behind said first screen relatively to said X-ray beam; means for transporting said unexposed film from said magazine into radiation receiving elation with said X-ray beam between said first and said second screens while they are apart; electrically controlled means for driving said transporting means; a rigid, movable mounting frame member for carrying said second screen, substantially transparent to said X-ray beam; means for cutting said unexposed film into sheets of predetermined length greater than that of said screens, located between said transporting means and said screens in the vicinity of the latter, and including: a fixed blade secured to said housing, and a movable blade secured integrally to said frame member; electrically controlled means for operating said movable frame member and said movable blade for simultaneously cutting said unexposed film and pressing it between two faces of said screens adjacent thereto; a magazine for storing exposed film sheets; means for ejecting said exposed film sheets one by one from between said screens towards said storing magazine, located between said screens and said storing magazine including: ejection roller means having a shaft; electrically controlled means for driving said ejection roller, and a movable idler roller mounted for rotation about a shaft parallel to that of said roller means and lodged integrally with said movable frame member for engaging with said roller means when said screens are apart and for disengaging therewith when they are pressed together; means for controlling all said electrically controlled means for selectively and successively effecting operation of said unexposed film transporting means to feed film from said supply roll, to stop said film when located between said screens; of said movable frame operating means simultaneously for moving said second screen towards said first screen and for cutting said film, and after exposure, simultaneously for moving said second screen away from said first screen and for bringing said idler roller to engagement with said roller means; and of said ejection roller driving means for ejecting said exposed film towards said storing magazine; and a picture amplifier having an input screen located behind said second screen relatively to said X-ray beam and an output screen for delivering a visible X-ray picture.
 2. Assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transporting means include: a feed roller having a shaft parallel to that of said ejection roller, and a fixed idler roller contiguous with said feed roller having a shaft journaled integrally with said housing; wherein said electrically controlled means for driving said transporting means and said ejection roller means respectively include two electric motors having rotary shafts respectively include two electric motors having rotary shafts respectively coupled to those of said feed and of said ejection rollers; wherein said means for controlling said electrically controlled means comprise means for generating a signal when said unexposed film arrives between said ejection roller and said movable idler roller; and wherein said storing magazine is lighttight, detachable from said housing and connected thereto by means of two slots facing each other, respectively formed in said storing magazine and in said housing. 